Resource managers need to take action

Letter to the editor

Posted: Tuesday, January 16, 2007

I have recently seen lots of back and forth regarding resource depletion and allocation overage issues involving charter boats. All Alaska fisheries resource managers need to understand that the fish stocks are not the charter fisherman's main resource. Their main resource is their client base. They get paid by that client pool, which when happy then returns again, passes on referrals to other potential customers and tips well. The health of the fish stocks or allocation overages is of secondary concern to a happy client pool. For this reason, they are incapable of voluntarily exercising any type of restraint or conservation methods even if in their hearts they know they should.

Managers need to take conservation steps now to hold this fishery within its allocation limits. History has shown they are incapable of collectively managing themselves toward any type of conservation strategy.